The Jackhammer Elegies

by Stefan Jaeger

When Scott Carter, a savvy civil and structural engineer, finds himself in an elevator at the top of one of his own high-rise building designs, a powerful blast in the basement rocks Carter from his everyday life into a media limelight—and ultimately into the crosshairs of a technically cunning terrorist, alias Jackhammer. Carter becomes a consultant to the FBI as it investigates the engineering angles to the case, teaming up with Special Agent Michelle Taylor, whose striking presence pulls Carter into the complications of a growing love and doubts about his future. The partners soon find themselves matching wits with an elusive mastermind targeting the lifelines of a city’s public works.

472 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2012

Reviews

[Kelcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book after the author emailed me in my role as an American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) board member. As a civil engineer with some STEM outreach experience, I like the idea of writing a book with civil engineer characters. The main character is quite a bit more realistic than James Bond's Q, MacGyver, or Scotty from Star Trek. It is also true that we have a lot of critical infrastructure that is taken for granted and could be targeted.

There are pages of expository about current ASCE initiatives and similar propaganda. I found it to be over the top and was entertained by the lack of subtlety. The book was designed to communicate this information, but details about professional engineers, engineering licensure, ASCE agenda items, and National Engineers Week are emphasized even when they are not vital to the plot or fundamental character development.

Cancer is also a significant element of the book. My guess is that cancer featured prominently in the author's life while he wrote the book.

I've heard that you should write what you know. The Jackhammer Elegies is definitely the case of an ASCE employee writing about what he knows. It is not the best thriller or mystery novel, but it is unique in its depiction of a civil engineer and its genuine insight into some key issues faced by civil engineers today. In this sense, it is definitely worth a read and a recommendation to the right person.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this thriller. Great to have an engineer as a hero as opposed to the usual, soldier, cop, spy etc

[Sandy Goodspeed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, though I did guess the bad guy.

[Besmir Zenelaku]

A great book for a civil engineering student.